perturb

per·turb

transitive verb \pər-ˈtərb\

Definition of PERTURB

1

: to cause to be worried or upset : disquiet

2

: to throw into confusion : disorder

3

: to cause to experience a perturbation

— per·turb·able \-ˈtər-bə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of PERTURB

1. It perturbed him that his son was thinking about leaving school.
2. <the caller's strange remark perturbed me enough to keep me awake that night>

Origin of PERTURB

Middle English, from Middle French perturber, from Latin perturbare to throw into confusion, from per- + turbare to disturb — more at turbid

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PERTURB

Synonyms

agitate, ail, alarm (also alarum), bother, concern, derail, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distemper, distract, distress, exercise, flurry, frazzle, freak (out), fuss, hagride, disturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, weird out, worry

Antonyms

calm, compose, quiet, settle, soothe, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Related Words

aggravate, anger, annoy, bug, chafe, chivy (or chivvy), exasperate, fret, gall, get, grate, harass, harry, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put off, put out, rile, vex; bedevil, haunt, plague; abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, jar, mortify, nonplus, rattle, shake up; daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dispirit, unnerve

Near Antonyms

allay, alleviate, assuage; appease, conciliate, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate

See Synonym Discussion at discompose

Rhymes with PERTURB

acerb, adverb, disturb, exurb, potherb, pro-verb, proverb, reverb, suburb, superb